Metal shoe-sole protector.



No. 673,343. 7 Patented Apr. 30, l90l.

F. m. STBAUBE & B. F. WALSH.

METAL SHOE SOLE PROTECTOR.

(A pplication filed Nov. 12, 1900.

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS MARION STRAUBE AND BENJAMIN FRANKLIN WALSH, OF BOULDER, COLORADO.

METAL SHOE-SOLE PROTECTOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 673,343. dated April 30, 1901.

Application filed November 12, 1900. Serial No. 36,196. on model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FRANCIS MARION STRAUBE and BENJAMIN FRANKLIN WALSH, citizens of the United States of America, residing at Boulder, in the county of Boulder and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Metal Shoe- Sole Protectors; and we do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the lettors-and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in metal protectors for the soles and heels of shoes and boots, our object being to provide a detachable device of this class adapted to cover the leather sole and heel of a boot or shoe while the wearer is engaged in work calculated to subject the protected parts to severe wear, as in the business of mining; and to these ends the invention consists of the features hereinafter described and claimed, all of which will be fully understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which. is illustrated an embodiment thereof.

In the drawings, Figure l is a bottom view of a shoe equipped with our improvement. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same. Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the sole and heel portions detached from the shoe and showing the parts unlocked. Fig. 4 is a cross-section taken through the sole portion. Fig. 5 is a front end view of the heel-protector.

Similar reference characters indicating corresponding parts in the views, let the numeral 5 designate the shoe-sole protector, which consists of the two parts or members 5 and 5, hinged at one extremity, as shown at 5 by passing a pin ornail through coinciding apertures formed in the overlapping parts and riveting or upsetting'its extremities in such a manner as to permit the two parts to turn freely on each other at these points. The adjacent longitudinal edges of the two parts overlap, and they are locked against accidental displacement by forming slots A and B in the two parts 5 and 5 and bending the lips O and D in the rear of the slots in opposite directions, the arrangement being such that the lips C and D overlap each other oppositely from the parts to which they are attached. To the extremity of the part 5 remote from the pivot or hinge pin 5 is pivoted at E a metal plate F, provided with a slot G, adapted to engage a pin H, attached to the part 5 and provided with a head which overlaps the slot and locks the plate F in place. The edge of the slot G is beveled on one side, as shown at G, whereby as the plate F is moved to the locking position there is a tendency to draw the two parts 5 and 5 tightly together. There is a slight recess G at the extremity of the slot, into which the shank of the pin H slips after leaving the bevel G, whereby the plate is locked against accidental displacement. It may, however, be unlocked without difiiculty by the use of some suitable metal instrument when it is desired to remove the protector from the shoe-sole. The parts 5 and 5 are provided with nails J, whose heads project beyond their outer surface and prevent the body of the plates from wear. These nails are riveted on the inside; but when their heads are worn off or to such an extent that they no longer afford proper protection to the plates they may be punched out and new ones substituted, whereby the plates may be made to last indefinitely at very little expense.

The parts of the protector are provided with upwardly-projecting lips K, which grasp the edges of the shoe-sole and hold the device in place thereon until the plate F is unlocked.

The heel-protector, which as a whole is designated by the numeral 6, is substantially of the same construction as the sole-protector, already described. Its two parts 6 and 6 are hinged at 6 and slotted, as shown at A and B, the lips D and O being bent to overlap oppositely from the adjacent overlapping edges of the two parts, which are locked in place by a plate F, pivoted to an ear or lug 6 formed on thefront part of the member 6 and occupying a position in front of the shoe-heel. A lug 6 is formed on the opposite member 6 and similarly locked to the lug 6 The lug 6 is provided with a pin 6 having an enlarged outer extremity or head.

The locking-plate F is provided with a slot F beveled on one side, as shown at F whereby as the plate F is moved to locking engagement with the pin J the beveled edge of the slot engages the shank of the pin and has a tendency to draw and clamp the two members 6 and 6 tightly together.

The members or parts 6 and 6 are provided with clamping-lips K, which engage the, edge or vertical wall of the shoe or boot heel. The heel-protector members 6 and 6 are also provided with nails J of the same construction and arrangement as those of the sole-protector, heretofore described.

In applying the protector to either the heel or sole of the boot or shoe the two members are opened sufificiently (see Fig. 3) to permit the device to be easily placed in position, after which the two parts are closed, bringing the lips to engagement with the edge of the sole or heel, as the case may be. The

locking-plate is then moved to the locking position, as heretofore explained. To remove the protector, it is only necessary to reverse the operation of applying the device, as Will be readily understood.

Having thus described our invention, What we claim is 1. In-a. metal sole or heel protector, the combination of two metal members movably connected'at one extremity, their inner longitudinal edges being adapted to meet whereby the surface'of the sole or heel is completely covered, the adjacent edges of the two members being slotted and provided with lugs arranged to overlap oppositely from the parts to which they belong, and suitable means for locking the two members in place.

2. In a metal boot or shoe sole or heel protector, the combination of twomembers, hinged at one extremity, and a locking device applied to the opposite extremity, the two members being connected and arranged so that their inner edges meet and overlap each other, whereby the shoe sole or heel is completely covered, the adjacent edges of the two members being slotted and provided with lips arranged to overlap oppositely from the parts to which they belong.

In testimony whereof We affix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

FRANCIS MARION STRAUBE. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN WALSH. Witnesses:

LEWIS W. GODDARD, ALPHEUS WRIGHT. 

